Sunday, October 23, 2016

I'll Take You Under My Wing

How many different ways are there to say, "I love this frigging band." I say it a lot, but I totally mean it every single time I say it. Depeche Mode are so cool. Urgh. They're urgh-cool. And I love this frigging band. As I said before, their early synthpop material was my gateway and I love it a lot. But every era is brilliant and so extremely danceable. Even, I apprehensively admit, the grungy stuff. And when I say danceable, I mean that Dave Gahan might be my most favorite dancing frontman ever. Because what IS that, even???

I'm really proud of this one. This piece is a triumph for me because it's the first time I've really executed a work in this linework-preserving style with total conviction. I pulled my color palette from the cover of Black Celebration, which features yet another of my knockout favorites, "Question of Time."

Here are some preparatory sketches of Dave and Martin Gore:

How remarkable is this band for having not one, but TWO outrageously beautiful vocals?! When I first saw what they looked like, I remember being really amused that such a big voice came out of cute little Dave. And then there's that amazing sort of effortless vibrato that both Dave and Martin do. I'd certainly put the both of them up there on the list of mind-bending singers with Kate Bush. That's voice-coach-level complicated. And lemme tell ya, between the impossible singing and the arm-dancing, you will never see anything with more idiotic abandon than me singing along with a Depeche Mode song. Also, upcoming album!!!! Anway. Bless these black-clad heroes. (P.S. Hear ye, hear ye: Fletch is my hair idol. Bless also his ginger locks.)

"It's just a question of time.It should be better.It's just a question of time.It should be better with you."